Motor control system



Filed Feb. 5, 1957 0000000 N 000000 K. 0 000 O 0000 h 00 O V 00 000 n 00 00 N 00 o m= Lm 0000000 0000 00b 00 0 000 O0 O0 0 oow 00000. 0000 000 mfik kzfl EDGQLQNQQW W E mwv MY.

Patented Nov. 30, 1937 PATENT OFFICE MOTOR CONTROL SYSTEM Norman E. Willby, Irwin, Pa., assignor to West inghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company,

East Pittsburgh, Pa.,

sylvania a corporation of Penn- Application February 5, 1937, Serial No. 124,263

7 Claims.

My invention relates, generally, to motor control systems and, more particularly, to systems for controlling both the acceleration and the deceleration of the propelling motors of electric 5 vehicles as, for example, trolley buses.

In some cases, it is desirable to so equip electrically-propelled vehicles,v particularly trolley buses which are required to operate over excessive grades or make frequent stops, that the driving motors may be utilized to brake the vehicles as well as to propel them. However, it is desirable to keep the size and weight of the control equipment on a trolley bus at a minimum in order that the maximum amount of space i.- will be available for the passengers and that good performance will be obtained without using an excessive amount of power. Furthermore, it is necessary that a trolley busbe capable of accelerating and decelerating rapidly and smoothly in order to cope with modern traific conditions and to prevent discomfort to the passengers.

7 An object of my invention, generally stated, is

, to provide a control system for an electrically propelled vehicle which shall be simple and efficient in operation and which may be e onomically manufactured and installed;

A more specific object of my invention is to provide for accelerating and decelerating an electrically propelled vehicle both rapidly and' smoothly.

Another object of my invention is to provide for increasing the number of control steps or notches both during the acceleration and the deceleration of an electrically propelled vehicle without materially increasing the amount of control equipment.

Other objects of my invention will be explained fully hereinafter or will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In accordance with one embodiment of my invention, the resistors which control the motor current both during the acceleration and dynamlc braking of a vehicle and the switches which shunt the resistors from the motor circuit are so combined and operated that the number of accelerating and braking steps is increased without increasing the number of switches required. The resistor shunting switches are operated by interlock progression both during acceleration and dynamic braking under the control of a current limit relay, the setting of which may be varied by either the acceleration controller or the braking controller.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of my invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a diagrammatic view of a control system embodying my invention; and

Fig. 2 is a chart showing the sequence of operation of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, the system shown therein comprises a motor it having an armature winding H and a series field winding 2, a line switch LS and a switch M for connecting the motor to a power source, a resistor R which is sub-divided into a plurality of sections l3 to it, inclusive, for controlling the armature current during both the acceleration and deceleration of the motor iii, a plurality of switches Rt, R2, R3, R4 and R5 for controlling the resistor connections, switches Bi and B2 for establishing dynamic braking connections for the motor, a limit relay LR for automatically controlling the acceleration and the deceleration of the motor, an accelerating controller AC and a braking controller BC, both of which may be of the drum type.

The motor HI may be of a type suitable for propelling an electric vehicle, as, for example, a trolley bus (not shown). Power for operating the motor to accelerate the vehicle may be supplied from any suitablesource through current collecting devices H and 48 which are disposed to engage overhead conductors i9 and 20, respectively.

In order to increase the smoothness of operation of the vehicle during both the accelerating and the decelerating periods of operation the resistor shunting switches are so disposed that they may be operated first in one sequence to shunt a portion of the resistor R. from the motor circuit step by step, and then operated in a difierent sequence to recombine certain sections of the resistor R in the motor circuit and then shunt the resistors from the circuit, thereby increasing the number of control steps or notches provided with a certain number of resistor shunting switches. In this manner, a large number of steps are obtained both during acceleration and dynamic braking without materially increasing the control equipment which provides smoother operation of the vehicle and keeps the space required for the equipment and its weight and cost at a minimum.

With a view to further simplifying the equipment and wiring necessary for controlling the operation of the vehicle both during acceleration trolled by interlocks on the switches instead or by the usual sequence drum. Furthermore, a single interlock'on each switch performs the dual iunction of establishing an energizing circuit for the holding coil of that switch and also the closing,

coil of the next successive switch, which reduces,

, the number of interlocks required in the system I and simplifies the wiring of the equipment.

The rates of acceleration and. dynamic braking are both governed by the limit relay LR which is responsive to the motor armature current. The

rate of acceleration may be varied wit prede= termined limits by means of the accelerating controller AC which is-connected to a calibrating spring 2| on the limit relay. It will be seen that, as the controller drum is advanced, the tension on the spring M is increased, thereby cw the current required to operate the relay and, increasing the rate of acceleration of the motor 89. Likewise, the dynamic braking current a, therefore, the rate of deceleration may be varied by adjusting the tension on a similar calibrating spring 22 by means of the braking controller Provision is made for energizing the field winding l2 of the motor it from the external power I source during dynamic braking, thereby insuring that the braking current will build up rapidly and the braking action take efl'ect quickly when the dynamic braking connections are established. A resistor 23 is connected in the field winding circuit to limit the field current to a desired value. In order that the functioning of the foregoing apparatus may be more clearly understood, the operation of the system will now be described in more detail. Assuming that it is desired to accelerate the vehicle at the maximum rate, the controller AC is fully advanced, thereby closing the switches LS, M and Rl to connect the motor it to the external power source. The energizing circuit for the actuating coil of the switch LS may be traced from the positive power conductor is through the current collector I'l, conductor 25, contact fingers 26 and 21 bridged by a contact segment 28 on, the controller BC, conductor 29; contact fingers 3| and 32 \bridged by a segment 33 on the controller AC, conductor 34, an interlock 35 on the switch Bl, thev actuating coil 36 of the switch LS, conductors 37 and l. and the current collector l8 to the negative power conductor 20. The energizing circuit for the actuating coil'of the switch M extends from the previously energizedconductor 84 through the actuating coil 39 and conductors 31 and 38 tothe negative current collector l8.

The energizing circuit for the actuating coil of the switch RI may be traced from a contact finger 4| which engages the segment 33 of the controller AC, through conductors 42, 43 and 44, an interlock 45 on the switch R4, conductors 43 and 41, the actuating coil 48 oi the switch RI, conductor 49, contact members iii of the relay LR, and conductors 52 and 33 to the negative current collector i3. j

The-closing of the switches LS, M and RI establishes amotor circuit which. may be traced from the positive current collector I! through con-' .ductors 25 and 53, contact members 14 on the switch LS, conductor 55, contact members on the switch RI, the resistors l3, I4, I i and II, the armature winding ll, conductor .51, the actuating coil BI 01 the relay LR, conductor 59, contact member 8| of the switch M, conductor .62, the

field winding i2 and conductor 38 to the negative I current collector l8.

ductor 81, the actuating coil 89, conductor 49, the

contact memberstl of the relay R and conductor 52 to the negative conductor 38.

The switch R2 is retained in its closed position by a holding coil as, which is energized through a circuit extending from a contact finger ii on the controller AC through conductor 82, an interlock it on the switch R2, the holding coil 69, conductor it, an interlock it on the switch R6 and conductors ti and 3B to-the negative current collector 08.

.As explained hereinbei'ore, the interlock it on the switch R2 also establishes a'circuit to the closing coil of the switch R3. Therefore, this switch bev closed to accelerate the motor still iurther as soon as the counter-electromotive force of the motor reduces the armature current sumciently to permit the limit relay LR to close its contact members. The energizing circuit for the closing coil of the switch R3 may be traced from the previously energized conductor 12 through the interlock 13 on the switch R3, conductor 16, the closing coil Tl, conductors 18 and t9, the contact members 5! of the relay LR and conductors 52 and 38 to the negative current collector l8,

Likewise, the closing of the switch R3 establishes a circuit for its holding coil and also for the closing coil of the switch R4. The holding The energizing circuit for the closing coil oi the switch 34 extends from the previously energized conductor 82 through the interlock 83 on the switch R8, conductors 34 and 83, the closing coil 81, conductor 49, the contact members, 5| of the relay LR and conductors 52 and 38 to the negative current collector It. The holding coil for the switch R4 is energized through a circuit which may be traced from a contact finger 88 on the controller AC through conductors, 89 and M, an interlock 32 on the switch R4, conductors 33 and 94, the holding coil 95 and conductors 52 and 33 to the negative current collector ll.

It will be noted that the closing 01 the switch R4 interrupts the circuit for the actuating coil' of the switch RI and also the circuits through the holding coils of the switches R2 and R3, thereby permitting these switches to be opened at this time since the interlocks 4i and I5 carried by the switch'are opened when the main contact members of the switch are closed.

However, the opening of the switch R3 establishes an energizing circuit to the closing coil of the switch R! which causes this switch to be closed as soon as the contact members of the relay LR are closed. The energizing circuit for the closing coil of the switch R may be traced from the previously energized conductor 8i through the interlock 82 on the switch R4, conductors 93 and 94, the closing coil 88, conductor 91, an interlock 88 on the switch R3, conductors 99 and 49, the contact members 5| of the relay LR and conductors 52 and 38 to the negative current collector I3. The holding coil of the switch R5 is energized through a circuit which extends from the previously energized conductor 93 through the coil 90, an interlock I08 on the switch R5, conductors I Iii and 38 to the negative current Collector I8.

It will be seen that the closing of the switches R4 and R5 and the opening of the switches Ri, R2 and R3 connects the resistor section IS in the motor circuit in parallel circuit relation with the series connected resistors I3, I4 and i5. thereby further decreasing the total resistance in the motor circuit. Following the closing of the switch R5 to establish the parallel connections just described, the switch R2 is reclosed to shunt the resistor I3 from the motor circuit. The energizing circuit for the closing coil of the switch R2 may be traced from the previously energized conductor 65, through an interlock IIII on the switch R5, and conductor 61 to the closing coil 68, thence through conductor 49, the contact members SI of the relay LR and conductors 52 and 88 to the negative current collector I8.

The switch R3 is then operated under the con trol of the limit relay LR as previously described. thereby further reducing the total resistance in the motor circuit. Following the closing of the switch R3 the switch RI is again closed to shunt the remainder of the resistor R from the motor circuit and connect the motor III directly across the power conductors. The energizing circuit for the closing coil of the switch RI extends at this time from the previously energized conductor 43 through an interlock I02 on the switch R5, conductor I83, an interlock I84 on the switch R3, conductor 41, the actuating coil 48 of the switch RI, and thence through the conductor 48 and the contact members 5| of the relay LR and conductors 52 and 38 to the negative current collector I8.

In this manner a portion of the resistor shunting switches is used the second time during the accelerating period to' shunt resistance from the motor circuit. However, the sequence of operation is diii'erent during the second operation than it was during the first, thereby increasing the number of accelerating steps and improving the performance of the vehicle without increasing the total number of switches required. I

In the event that it is desired to decelerate the vehicle by means of dynamic braking, the con troller AC is actuated to theofl position and the controller BC advanced, thereby causing the switches LS and-M to be opened and the switches BI and B2 to be closed to establish the dynamic braking circuits. The energizing circuit for the actuating coil of the switch BI may be traced from. a contact finger Ill-which engages the segment 28 of thecontroiler BC, through conduc- I tor I88, an interlock I81 on the switch LS, conductor I88, the actuating coil I88 of the switch BI, and conductors 21 and 2,8 to the negative current conductor I 8. The energizing circuit for the actuating coil of the switch B2 extends from the conductor Ill through the coil III and conductor 38 to negative current collector I8.

At this time, the switch RI is also closed, the actuating coil of the switch being energized through a circuit which extends from a contact finger II2 on the controller BC through conductors 42, 43 and 44, an interlock 45 on the switch R4, conductors 46 and 41, the coil 48, conductor 49, the contact members SI of the relay LR, and conductors 52 and 88 to the negative current collector I8.

The closing of the switches Bi, B2 and RI establishes a dynamic braking circuit for the armature oi the motor I0, which may be traced from one terminal of the armature II through resistors I5, I5, I4 and I3, the contact members 56 of the switch RI, conductor I I3, contact members N4 of the switch Bi, conductor I I5, contact members N5 of the switch BI, conductors III and 62, the field winding I2, conductor 38, the switch 132, conductor 58, the coil 58 of the relay LR and conductor 51 to the other terminal of the armature KI.

As explained hereinbefore, the field winding I2 of the motor 48 is energized from the power source during dynamic braking to insure that the motor current will build up rapidly to cause braking action to take effect quickly. The energizing circuit for the field winding I2 may be traced from the positive current collector I'I through conductors 25 and 53, the, resistor 23, contact members Iii of the switch BI, conductors III and 62, field winding I2 and conductor 38 to the negative current collector I8.

As shown in the sequence chart in Fig. 2, the switches R2, R3, R4 and R5 are operated in the same manner as during acceleration to shunt the resistor R from the motor circuit, thereby controlling the motor current and regulating the braking eflect. Furthermore, the number of braking steps is increased by recombining certain sections of the resistor R during the braking operation, as has been explained in detail in the preceding description of the accelerating cycle. The operation of the resistor shunting switches is controlled by interlock progression in the manner hereinbefore described and the rate of operation is automatically governed by the current limit relay LR in the same manner as during acceleration of the vehicle. The setting of the relay LR and, therefore, the rate of dynamic braking may be varied by increasing the tension on the spring 22 by means of the controller BC, as hereinbefore described.

It will be noted that the controllers AC and BC are both so constructed that the operation 01' the resistor shunting switches from step to step may be manually controlled in place of automatically controlled, as hereinbefore 'described. Thus, it the controller BC is held on position 2, in which case a contact finger I2I engages the segment 28, the progression of the resistor shunting switches will be stopped with the switch R2 closed, since the energizing circuits for the remaining switches will not be established through the controller BC. Likewise, it is necessary to actuate the controller BC desired to utilize automatic control the controllers are initially advanced through position 5. as hereinbefore described, thereby causing the progression of the switches to be controlled by thelimit relay LR.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that I have provided a system for controlling both'the acceleration and the deceleration of electrically propelled vehicles which is applicable to trolley buses in which it is desirable to keep the weight of the equipment and the space required for the equipment at a minimum. The system. herein described produces rapid and smooth acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle, since a comparatively large number of control steps may be provided with a relatively small amount of control equipment.

Since numerous changes, may be madein the above described construction and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the i'oregoingdescription and. shown in the accoinpanying drawingshall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a motor control system, incombination, a motor for propelling a vehicle, a source Io! power for the motor, switching means for connecting the motor to the power source toaccelerate the vehicle, switching means for establishing dynamic braking connections for the motor to decelerate the vehicle, a plurality of resistors for controlling the motor current during acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle, a plurality of switches for controlling the resistor connections, control means for initiating the operation of said switches, and interlocking means on said switches for causing them to be omrated first in one sequence and then in a diflerent sequence to increase the number of accelerating and decelerating steps.

2. In a motor control system, in combination,

a motor for propelling a vehicle, a source of power for the motor, switching means for con necting the motor to the. power source to accelerate the vehicle, switching means for establishing dynamic braking connections for the motor to decelerate the vehicle, a plurality of resistors for-controlling the motor current during acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle, a plurality of switches for controlling the resistor connections, control means for initiating the operation of said switches, interlocking means on said switches for causing them to be operated first in one sequence and then in a difierent sequence to increase the number of accelerating and decelerating steps, and a current limit relay responsive to the motor current for governing the operation of said switches.

3. In a motor control system, in combination, a motor for propelling a vehicle, a source of power for the motor, means for connecting the motor to the power source to accelerate the vehicles, means for establishing dynamic braking connections for the motor to decelerate the vehicle, a plurality of resistors for controlling the motor current during acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle, a plurality of switches for controlling the resistor connections, control means for initiating the operation of said switches, and interlocking means on said switches for causing them to be operated first in one sequence and then in a different sequence to increase the number of accelerating and decelerating steps, certain of said switches having a closano es-e.

ing coil and a holding coil energized through said interlocking means. t

4. In a motor control system, in combination, a motor for propelling a vehicle, a source of power for the motor, means for connecting the motor to the power source to accelerate the vehicles, means for establishing dynamic braking connections for the motor to decelerate the vehicle, a plurality of resistors for controlling the motor current during acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle, a 'plurallty'of switches for controlling a the resistor connections, control means for initiating the operation of said switches, and interlocking means on saidswitches tor causing them to be operated first in one-sequence and them in a difierent sequence to increase the number of accelerating and deceler- I sting steps, certain of said switches having a closing coil and a holding coil energized through said interlocking means, said closing coil Ming energized through an interlock on one switch and the holding coil being energized through an interlock on another switch.

5. In a motor control system, in combination, a motor for propelling a vehicle, a source of power for the motor, means for connecting the motor to the power source to accelerate the veliicle, means for establishing dynamic braking connections for the motor to decelerate the vehicle, a plurality of resistors for controlling the motor current during acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle, a plurality of switches for controlling the resistor connections, control means for initiating the operation of said switches, interlocking means associated with said switches and cooperating with said control means for causing the switches to be operated first, in one next successive switch are energized.

6. In a motor control system, in combination, a motor for propelling a vehicle, a source of power for the motor, means for. connecting the motor to the power source to accelerate the vehicle, means for establishing dynamic braking connections tor the motorto decelerate the vehicle, a plurality of resistors for controlling the motor current duringacceleration and deceleration of the vehicle, a plurality of switches for controlling the resistor connections, control means for initiating the operation ofsaid switches. interlocking means associated with said switches and cooperating with said control means for causing the switches to be operated first in one sequence and then in another sequence to increase the number of accelerating and decelerating steps, certain of said switches having a closing coiland a holding coil, an interlock on each of said switches through which the holding coil of said switch and the closing coil of the next successive switch are energized, and relay means responsive to the motor current and cooperating with said interlocks to control the energization of said closing coils.

7. In a motor control system, in combination, a motor for propelling a vehicle, a source of power for the motor, means for connecting the motor to the power source to accelerate the vehicle, means for establishing dynamic'braking connections for the motor to decelerate thevehicle, a plurality of resistors for controlling the motor current duracceleration and deceleration of the vehicle, II

a plurality of switches for controlling the resistor connections, control means for initiating the operation of said switches, interlocking means on said switches for causing them to be operated first in one sequence and then in a 'diiferent sequence to increase the number of accelerating 

